Honda HR-V 2016 Long-term Review - 1

Honda HR-V VTi-L ADAS
Long-Term Test (Introduction)

It's not yet been out a year, but the Honda HR-V has already established itself as a key player in the light SUV market, thanks largely to its strong packaging and decent equipment list. Our latest long-termer is the top-shelf HR-V VTi-L with the cost-optional Advanced Driver Assistance System (or ADAS for short). Available from $32,990 (plus on-road costs), the Jazz-based HR-V is perceived as expensive. We aim to ascertain whether it's worth it over the coming months.

Long-Term Tests
motoring.com.au aims to make your choice of vehicle easier. Our Editorial section does this via our mix of news, international and local launch reviews as well as our seven-day tests.

From time to time we also take the opportunity to spend more time in a vehicle. These longer-term tests can be as short as a couple of weeks, but more recently we've settled on a six-month period as indicative of ‘normal' ownership.

Long-term tests give our staff writers and contributors a chance to get to know a car as an owner would. While the car is with us, we pay for fuel, pay for the servicing and generally use and live with the car as a new owner would.

We believe long-term tests give car buyers an added insight into the vehicle on test, but also the qualities behind the brand and nameplate. The extended period also allows us to touch base with the dealer networks in question.

It comes as no surprise that manufacturers tend to have a love-hate relationship with long-term tests. Six months is plenty long enough to fall out of love with the latest and greatest, and start to nitpick — just like real owners do.

Honda HR-V VTi-L ADAS
The Honda HR-V is an already-familiar sight to motoring.com.au readers. We were there at the local launch, and since then we've thrown the light Honda SUV into the ring against segment competitors and completed a seven-day review.

Now it's time to sample the Jazz chassis-based HR-V on a longer-term basis. To do that we've welcomed a top-spec VTi-L with the $1000 cost-optional Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

This adds some new-age – and helpful – technology, including automatic high-beam assist, forward-collision warning and lane-departure warning to an already loaded package.

ADAS builds on a strong baseline specification that includes six airbags and reversing camera that are offered across the HR-V range.

All HR-V variants are powered by a Civic-sourced 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, with no diesel available. It's an old-fashioned single-cam unit and generates 105kW/172Nm. It runs on 91 RON ULP and drives the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission.

Claimed fuel consumption in the VTi-L ADAS is 6.9L/100km; the lighter (though not significantly; 1328kg v 1366kg) VTi reduces that figure to 6.6L.

Towing capacity is 800kg (braked). That, along with the front-wheel drive only platform, indicates the HR-V's on-road target market rather than something more utilitarian. No harm there, as most of this segment is similarly-geared towards providing an alternative to the traditional hatchback.

Plump for the VTi-L (available from $32,990 plus on-roads, or $33,990 with ADAS) and there's additional kit, such as paddle shifters for the CVT, front and rear parking sensors, sporty 17-inch alloys with 215/55-series tyres, leather-appointed trim, chrome front door handles, openable panoramic roof, electrically retractable mirrors, dual-zone climate control, auto glass all-round with remote key fob operation, rear privacy glass, auto-dim rear view mirror, rear seat armrest.

There's even an LED map light and 'sports' alloy pedals!

All variants feature the Magic Seat arrangement made familiar by the Jazz which enables the HR-V to work well from packaging and access standpoints. There's a strong 437 litres of luggage capacity, which expands to 1032 litres with the split-fold rear seating lowered.

Honda has been criticised for being plain in the styling department recently, but to my eye the HR-V looks good, especially in VTi-L trim.

Climb up to the high-set driving position, noticing the easy access with low floors and quality finishes, and first impressions are good.

There's ample all-round visibility and comfortable seating up-front, but it is still an adjustment to accessing navigation via your Apple iPhone, rather than having the program integrated into the HR-V's on-board system. It does display external camera angles, so it wouldn't be a stretch, surely. Bluetooth phone connectivity works well, incidentally.

Move to the rear and the curiosities continue. There are map pockets, for example, but no rear HVAC outlets. Beyond the curious, however, is the lack of second-row headroom. Put simply, there's not much of it, and it's especially exasperating because the legroom is among the best in class.

On the road the HR-V continues on its comfortable bent, with a supple but controlled ride and reasonable agility for the segment. Braking, via four wheel discs, is also adequate.

The CVT can require some adaptation in terms of throttle input, and in conjunction with the relatively torque-light engine it makes keen junction getaways a sometimes difficult task. Once up to speed the driveline is relatively unobtrusive, though the engine can sound a little harsh under hard acceleration as the CVT adjusts to road speed.

Engaging the CVT paddles introduces seven 'steps' to proceedings, though curiously the revs increase at 100km/h when you manually select the seventh step, rather than leaving it in drive...

Fuel economy? Matt recorded 9.0L/100km at the HR-V's local launch, however, my time with the pint-sized SUV was perhaps more indicative of realistic use than the tight, hilly Tasmanian wilderness experienced at the car's debut. This resulted in 7.7L/100km; still a way off the claim, but a reliable indicator in mixed city/highway/suburban driving, where the HR-V will spend most of its time.

In terms of aftersales, expect the standard three-year/100,000km warranty to cover your HR-V. Service intervals are set at one-year or 10,000km, whichever comes first, and the initial 1000km check is free of charge.

The first service is fixed at $284, with subsequent services costing $298. The capped-price service program, known as Honda Tailored Service, lasts a maximum of five years.

If these initial (for me) impressions are any indicator, the HR-V is definitely worthy of consideration if you are shopping in this segment. Expect more detailed analysis of living with the HR-V in the coming weeks from the team.

2016 Honda HR-V VTi-L ADAS pricing and specifications:
Price: $33,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 105kW/172Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 6.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 160g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP